WASHINGTON -- A Senate proposal to extend the National Flood Insurance Program for five years hit another snag Tuesday when freshman Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said he wants a vote on an amendment to define human life as beginning at conception. The proposal is problematic because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he won't allow a vote on a...

WASHINGTON -- A Senate proposal to extend the National Flood Insurance Program for five years hit another snag Tuesday when freshman Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said he wants a vote on an amendment to define human life as beginning at conception.

AP Photo/Ed ReinkeU.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., wants to add an amendment to the National Flood Insurance Program bill that would define human life as beginning at conception.

The proposal is problematic because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he won't allow a vote on a measure that has nothing to do with the federal flood insurance program.

Reid had planned to bring up the flood insurance bill for a vote under a process that requires the unanimous consent of all senators. If Paul objects, it could delay action on the program until after the November elections.

"Sen. Reid can allow passage of the bill by allotting us a few short minutes and a vote," Bagley said. "I would suggest asking him why he is holding up flood insurance over a simple issue that could be taken care of in less than an hour."

Reid didn't hold back in expressing his anger at the development, although he didn't refer to Paul by name.

"I thought we were in a good place with flood insurance, but one Republican senator now wants to hold up flood insurance because he wants a vote on when life begins, as a beginning -- conception," Reid said. "We're not going to do that."

Asked about Reid's criticism, Paul said, "I think the people who believe in protecting life would like to see a vote."

Paul's insistence on a vote on his amendment, long championed by opponents of abortion, is just another in a long series of impediments for the flood insurance legislation. Congress hasn't been able to pass a long-term extension of the National Flood Insurance Program since 2004.

The program has 500,000 policyholders in Louisiana and the state's two senators, Democrat Mary Landrieu and Republican David Vitter, said a long-term extension is needed to provide the program with stability.

The Senate bill is designed to make the program, now $18 billion in debt, more financially stable by allowing yearly premium increases of 15 percent. Currently, the maximum increase is 10 percent.

Bruce Alpert can be reached at balpert@timespicayune.com or 202.450.1406.